World Cup roundup: Germany, Spain advance to semifinals

Themba Hadebe/The Associated PressSpain players celebrate with Spain's David Villa, partially visible at bottom, after he scored a goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against Paraguay on Saturday at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Spain won 1-0.

RESULTS

Germany 4, Argentina 0, Germany advances to semifinals.

Spain 1, Paraguay 0, Spain advances to semifinals.

HIGHLIGHTS

Germany scored four goals for the third time in five games at the World Cup, routing Argentina 4-0 in the quarterfinals. The Germans also beat Australia 4-0 in their first match, then took apart England 4-1 in the second round.

David Villa rescued Spain, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Paraguay in the 83rd minute. A dull match suddenly ignited in the second half with two blocked penalty shots, one for each team, in a two-minute period.

QUIET ENDING

After the 4-0 loss to Germany, Argentina coach Diego Maradona took a slow walk to midfield, hands jammed in his pockets, while several of his players broke down in tears. It was a surprisingly meek end for the Argentines, whose dominant run had given fans hope this might be a team capable of reaching the final for the first time since 1990, when Maradona led them on the field.

STARS

Miroslav Klose scored twice, giving him 14 World Cup goals in 100 appearances for the national team, as Germany routed Argentina 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Klose's 14 tie him with Gerd Mueller, one goal behind Brazil striker Ronaldo. And Klose will have two games left -- a semifinal and either the final or the third-place match -- to get the record.

David Villa, the man Spain turns to when it needs a goal, came through again as the Spanish beat Paraguay 1-0. Spain has just six goals through five matches at World Cup. Villa has five of them and is the tournament's leading scorer.

HISTORY

Germany will be making its third straight trip to the semifinals and its 12th overall -- nobody has more. The Germans won the World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990, all as West Germany.

GOAL OF THE DAY

Germany was clinging to a 1-0 lead in the 68th minute when Lukas Podolski threaded a cross between Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero and defender Nicolas Burdisso. Standing just in front of the goal, Miroslva Klose tapped it into the net and the Germans were on their way to a 4-0 victory.

LOOK AHEAD

The semifinals are set, with Uruguay playing the Netherlands on Tuesday in Cape Town, and Germany facing Spain on Wednesday in Durban.

Germany and Spain have faced off 20 times, with the Germans ahead 8-6-6. In the World Cup, the Germans have two wins and a draw.

The Dutch and Uruguayans have met twice, with the Netherlands winning 2-0 in the 1974 World Cup at Hanover, Germany. The Celeste won 2-0 at home in Montevideo in a 1980 friendly.